Top Democratic Senate Prospect Won’t Run #WVSEN

Attorney Nick Preservati will not run for Senate in West Virginia, forcing Democrats to continue their search for a strong recruit in the 2014 battleground state.

Democrats have been hunting for a candidate in the Mountain State since Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., announced his retirement earlier this year. Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call rate this race Lean Republican.

Last year, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, announced her campaign for Rockefeller’s seat. She remains the top Republican in the race.

Hoppy Kercheval of WV MetroNews broke the news on Preservati declining to run:

Sources tell MetroNews the Democrat came within days of announcing he was getting in the race for the seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Jay Rockefeller, but decided against it for family reasons.

The sources say Preservati and his wife are adopting a child. The adoption has been fast tracked and for family reasons it was not the right time for a political campaign.

Preservati, 40, had met with pollsters, lined up a campaign staff and was within three days of announcing his entry into the race when family issues arose. Preservati was personally recruited by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Aides for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee did not immediately return a request for comment on other recruitment prospects for the West Virginia race.